..to play Australia in the first Women’s World Cup T20 first semi-final

WEST Indies women  squeezed out England in a thrilling finish at the Daren Sammy Stadium to claim top spot in Group A and a semi-final against Australia – replaying their encounter in the final of the last tournament two years ago in Kolkata.

England will take on India, winners of Group B, knowing that they must make rapid improvements with the bat and in the field despite scrapping to keep the possibility of victory alive until the final over.

On a surface that made life difficult for fluent scoring, West Indies were indebted to innings of 46 from Deandra Dottin and 45 from Shemaine Campbelle – the latter dismissed with just three runs needed – as the reigning champions showed their composure to claimed a fourth win from four in the group stage.

Defeat was hard on Anya Shrubsole, who picked up 3 for 10 with the ball after playing a vital part with the bat, her innings of 29 from 26 helping to resurrect England in a seventh-wicket partnership with Sophia Dunkley.

Dottin, who was named Player of the Match, claimed two more scalps to become the tournament’s leading wicket-taker but England fought back impressively to ensure a game that was effectively a dead rubber, with both sides having qualified, gave the packed crowd a worthy finish in St Lucia’s penultimate game.

The biggest difference between the two sides was the fielding, as demonstrated during a frantic finale. With West Indies needing 18 from 13 balls, substitute fielder Fran Wilson dropped Campbelle at long-on, with the chance going straight through her hands and away for four. Dunkley then failed to get near a skied slog from Campbelle in the penultimate over, before Amy Jones dropped Britney Cooper from the final ball (Lauren Winfield then ran out Cooper with a direct hit to partially atone).

That left five runs required from the last six balls and although Shrubsole had Campbelle taken brilliantly at deep square leg by Danni Wyatt from her second delivery, Kycia Knight thrashed the next through point to seal a win raucously celebrated by the home supporters. (ESPN Cricinfo)